Ben Conley

Proposal & Marketing Specialist | RFP Strategy, Technical Writing, and Workflow Optimization

Richmond, Virginia, United States

About

I’m a proposal and marketing specialist with a sharp eye for detail and a passion for improving systems. With over a decade of experience across the AEC industry, corporate communications, and freelance work, I’ve built a reputation for translating complex technical input into clear, compelling content—and for creating smarter workflows that help teams deliver their best work. Whether coordinating cross-functional efforts across international time zones or coaching SMEs through proposal narratives, I bring a calm, organized approach rooted in strong writing, strategic thinking, and process improvement.

Experience

  • Proposal Manager at Woolpert
    Sep 2025 - Present · 10 mos

  • Senior Marketing Coordinator at Rincon Consultants, Inc.
    Jul 2024 - Mar 2025 · 9 mos

    At Rincon Consultants, I managed the full lifecycle of environmental services proposals, from early Go/No-Go evaluation through final interview. I collaborated closely with SMEs across service lines to develop compliant, compelling responses to complex RFPs involving environmental planning, natural and cultural resources, GIS, EIR, CEQA/NEPA, and a variety of on-call contracts. I became the go-to resource for regional transportation plan RFPs, delivering wins with regional transportation agencies throughout California. Known for my calm approach under pressure, I crafted coherent stories while carefully balancing input from multiple principal-level SMEs.

  • MGAC (Los Angeles, California, United States)
    • Senior Marketing Coordinator
      Jul 2022 - Jul 2024 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      At MGAC, I led proposal development and qualifications for pursuits across North America and the UK. In addition to supporting all service lines, I became the go-to resource for the firm’s Cost and Risk Management group, acting as a key liaison between SMEs, clients, and internal marketing teams. I developed over 75 project descriptions, independently managed high-volume teaming requests, and played a lead role in complex prime pursuits. Beyond writing and editing, I improved operations by guiding the department-wide adoption and onboarding of Wrike, developed a writing evaluation for potential hires, and reworked fee tracking to avoid inter-office numbering conflicts. I also supported major transition efforts for CRM systems, templating processes, OpenAsset implementation, and a server migration to OneDrive. I was recognized for my deep knowledge of the firm’s portfolio, my “Grammarly-level” editing, and my calm, thorough approach to fast-turnaround work.

    • Marketing Coordinator
      Oct 2019 - Jul 2022 · 2 yrs 10 mos

    • Office Coordinator
      Dec 2018 - Oct 2019 · 11 mos

  • Corporate Communications Coordinator at The Walt Disney Company
    Oct 2016 - Apr 2018 · 1 yr 7 mos

    At Disney, I redesigned a legacy workflow used to prepare daily news portfolios for senior corporate executives—cutting production time by up to two hours per day and significantly improving quality. I led the shift from manual, paper-based processes to a digital InDesign-based system, creating new SOPs and training four team members on the updated workflow. My work earned lasting recognition from the team and helped elevate the professionalism and efficiency of a high-visibility deliverable.

  • Copywriter at Freelance Marketing and Creative Services
    Aug 2014 - Aug 2016 · 2 yrs 1 mo

    As a freelance copywriter and editor, I collaborated with nonprofit, creative, and e-commerce clients to craft clear, audience-driven messaging across web, social, product, and internal communications. I conducted stakeholder interviews to align brand values with content strategy and developed tone-of-voice guidelines that supported long-term consistency. My work included writing, editing, and advising on digital marketing efforts, including paid social advertising setup. Clients appreciated my ability to distill complex goals into accessible language and actionable frameworks.